I once asked my grandma how they kept greens in the winter in the old days. She said they used to pull up the collards at the end of the season and plant them all together in a big hole, and then cover them up with pine tops. This protected the greens from the cold air and let the sun shine in as well. This year I decided to update her method and use it in my vegetable garden. I planted a patch of mixed greens and winter onions at the very end of my garden, next to a pecan tree. The ground here is not favorable for tomatoes, because of the tree roots, but it is fine for onions and greens. I started the greens in August, so they had good roots before the first frost.
I secured a big sheet of clear plastic to the fence near the greens and onions. Before the first frost, I stretched the plastic out over the greens like a lean-to. The plastic sheeting draws moisture to the greens to help keep them growing. As the leaves fell from the pecan tree, they blanketed the plastic, but the sun still shines through the leaves. The fence holds the plastic up enough that it does not mash the greens. I have had a wonderful patch of collards, turnips, arugula, mustard, spinach, and chicory – so far it has lasted all winter long! My Mom’s unprotected turnip patch was dead after the first cold snap.
Eating fresh winter greens is a special treat for me. I usually just fry some bacon and then I chop up some greens and onions in the same iron skillet. I stir fry them with about a half a cup of water and add a lid for a few minutes. Yum! They are not boiled to death and the flavor is great. I can have fresh greens any time. They have already gone through snow and ice. The blanket of leaves protects them and the plastic helps to water them. It is a pretty cheap greenhouse for winter greens. I have definitely found something I will be doing from now on. Try it and I think you will love it. Good luck!
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COMMENTS(7)
While the prince pranced in the port-a-potty he dreamed of the nut cracker sweet.
This is great unless you live in Wyoming where the wind is brutal and plastic doesn’t last long, nor tarps or covers
Wow, yeah, that is true. Wyoming is harsh!
Great information I will try some of your ideas. Candysue
Please will you post a picture. We live right next to a river in South Africa and the winter frosts that come up kill just about everything, so seeing how you did this would be great. I guess I’m a visual learner :-7
I love this idea. But I too am a visual learner and would love to see a picture of this. 🙂
A good way to grow your own chicken greens is to take grains like wheat, rye, oats, barley add to the bottom of a black growing nursery tray 1″ of dirt and sprout seeds until approx 3-4″ tall. Pull out the sprouted grains for nutrient rich fodder for chicken. This will also increase the volume of grains for feed.